This seminar examines social movements as key drivers of political and social change, with a particular focus on the Soviet and post-Soviet space. It explores how citizens have mobilized under authoritarian and hybrid political systems, how protest repertoires have evolved over time, and how digital technologies have transformed collective action in contemporary conflicts. The first part of the course introduces major theoretical approaches to the study of social movements, including political opportunity structures, resource mobilization and framing processes. These perspectives provide the analytical foundation for understanding why social movements emerge, how they organize, and under which conditions they succeed or fail. Building on these theoretical foundations, the seminar examines historical and contemporary forms of mobilization across the Soviet and post-Soviet region. Students will analyse dissident movements in the Soviet Union, the democratic transformations of 1989–1991, the Singing Revolution, the Colour Revolutions, the Euromaidan protests and others. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between political institutions, cultural practices, national identity, and collective action.
The second part of the course takes the form of a research workshop focusing on digital activism in and around the war in Ukraine. Students will work individually or in small groups to develop an original research project. They will formulate a research question, identify appropriate sources and methods, analyse empirical material, and assess the policy implications of their findings. Workshop sessions are designed to provide structured feedback on research design, data collection, analysis, and presentation.
Designed as a research-based learning seminar, the course combines conceptual learning with hands-on research. Students are expected to complete the assigned readings, participate actively in seminar discussions, and engage critically with both academic literature and empirical evidence. By the end of the course, they will have developed a solid understanding of social movement theory, acquired in-depth knowledge of political mobilization in the Soviet and post-Soviet space, and gained practical experience in designing, conducting, and presenting original research on digital activism in the context of war and conflict.